The Next Chapter

5 Things I’m Looking Forward To This Christmas

The past couple of weeks I’ve been planning for my very first Christmas in Medellin. Even though I’ve been coming to Colombia for the past three years, this is my first December here. This is the best month to live in the best country in the world, and the city has fulfilled and exceeded all of my expectations.

1. Seeing my family!

For the first time in five years of travel, my parents and sister are coming to visit me! They’re arriving on Christmas Day and staying for five days. I can’t wait to show them around one where I live, the remarkable Christmas lights all over the city, and how good life is here. Hopefully this is their first of many visits.

2. Hosting the big Christmas Dinner

I love cooking for others, and I haven’t had a chance to prepare a big meal for years. My family is a little unconventional since we are all vegetarians, so I’m making a big Indian vegetarian dinner for them, my boyfriend, and a good friend of ours. What will be interesting to see is what I can make happen with the ingredients I can find here.

3. Visiting Guatapé

I can’t have my family visit me without taking them to a pueblo. We’re heading to Guatapé a couple days after Christmas to climb the big rock, cruise out on the lake, and wander through the small town streets.

4. Taking time off work

Contrary to what most people believe, most of us long-term travelers do work – a lot. And I am no exception. Even though I live abroad, I need some vacation days, which I haven’t taken in a very long time. I’m looking forward to some time away from my computer.

5. Being a tourist

Since the first time I visited Medellin was 2010, it’s been a long time since I’ve done tourist-y things here. Showing my family around some of the tourist attractions here will be a nice change to my regular routines and hang-out spots.

What are you looking forward to this Christmas? Share your plans in the comments below.